Automobile winter inclosure and handle



Nov. 5, 1929. w, OSTEN 1,734,339

AUTOMOBILE WINTER INCLOSURE AND HANDLE Filed April 4, 1927 2Sheets-Sheet l EVE-T W (Yale viz M 05560 Nov. 5, 1929. J. w. OSTENAUTOMOBILE WINTER INCLOSURE AND HANDLE Filed April 4, 1927 2Sheets-Sheet 2 and their respective and having the the outside ofPatented Nov. 5, 1929 JOSEPH W. OSTEN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TOAUTO FABRICS PRODUCTS, IN 0.,

A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS AUTOIJIOBILE WINTER INGLOSUR-E AND HANDLEApplication filed April 4,

This invention relates to an improved type of winter closure for touringcars and more particularly to a winter closure in which one of thestationary side panels is provided with a vertically shiftable windowwhile the door panels are equipped with auxiliary handle mechanismsadapted to coact with the standard door handles of the automobile topermit operation of said handles from the exterior of the automobilewhen the doors winter closure panels are in closed position.

It is an object of this invention to provide an automobilewinter closureadapted to be readily mounted in position and wherein the door panelsare provided with auxiliary exteriorly operable handles constructed tooperate the regular handles of the door positioned on the inner sides ofsaid doors.

It is also an object of this invention to provide an automobile winterclosure wherein one of the stationary closure panels is equipped with avertically slidable pane.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a winter closurewherein the door panel sections are provided with exteriorly operablemeans for releasing handles on the inner sides of the doors.

It is an important object of this invention to provide a touring carwinter enclosure of simplified and improved construction adapted to bequickly mounted in position stationary front panel sec-r tions equippedwith vertically slidable windows while the closure sections associatedwith the doors are equipped with auxiliary handle mechanisms positionedto coact with handles mounted on the inner sides of the doors to permitopening of the doors from the automobile when the same is equipped withwinter closures.

Other and further important objects of this invention will be apparentfrom the dis closures in the specification and the accompanyingdrawings.

This invention (in a preferred form) is illustrated in the drawings andhereinafter more fully described.

On the drawings:

F igure 1 1s a fragmentary side elevation of 1927. Serial No. 180,639.

a touring typeautomobile equipped with a winter enclosure embodying theprinciples of this invention.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal vertical section of the same showing theinterior of one side of the automobile. I

Figure 3 is an tail section taken ure 1.

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail section taken on line IVIV of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary detail section of the door panel andhandle taken on line VV of Figure 2.

, Figure 6 is an enlarged detail section taken on line VIV I of Figure2.

Figure 7 is an enlarged detail section taken on line VII-VII of Figure2.

enlarged fragmentary deon line IIIIII of F ig- Fi 'ure 8 is a fra mentarhorizontal sectionof the closure taken on line VIII-VIII of igure 2.

Figure 9 is an enlarged fragmentary portion of an automobile door anddoor closure section illustrating a modified form of auxiliary handlefor use in operating the standard handle on the inner side of the door.I

Figure 10 is a vertical detail section taken on line X-X of Figure 9.

As shown on the drawings:

Referring to Figures 1 to 8, inclusive, the reference numeral 1indicates a Ford touring top supported in a standard manner upon anautomobile body 2. Mounted on the forward end of the body 2 is awindshield 3 of the usual type. The winter closures for both sides ofthe automobile are of identical construction so that it will only benecessary to describe one of the same. Engaged around the upper end ofthe windshield side post directly beneath the front end of the top 1 isa U-shaped windshield clamp 4 the ends of which are apertured to permitthe same to be rigidly secured by a bolt or other suitable means to thefront end of a longitudinally extending inner frame bar or bumper strip5. The bumper strip or bar 5 is supported intermediate its ends by meansof a bumper bracket '6, as illustrated in Figure 6, and has one endthereof looped upon itself at 7 to engage around a standard supportingrod or member D secured to the b( y 8 forming a part of the brace framefor the top 1. The other end of the bumper bracket 6 is directeddownwardly to the inside of the bumper strip and is secured thereto bymeans of a bolt 9 or other suitable means. Secured to the rear end ofthe bumper bar 5 by means of a bolt 10 or other suitable means is theupper portion of a substantially vertical brace or connecting bar 11 theupper end of which is bent over to form a hook 12 adapted to be slidablyengaged or hung over another top frame member or strut iron 13 of theautomobile top. The brace bar 11 extends downwardly and has the lowerend thereof 2 of the car. The bumper bar 5 extends rearwardly from thewindshield 3 to a point near the rear end of the automobile and ispositioned substantially in the plane of the side of the body.

Positioned to the outside of the bumper bar 5 is an outer bar 1% therear end of which is adapted to beengaged by a suitable clamping bracketto one of the rear bows 15 of the automobile top. The outer bar 1%extends forwardly substantially in the plane of the side of the top 1and is secured on the inner side of said top by means of a plurality ofspaced retaining clamps 16 of any desired type. The front end of theouter bar 1a is adapted to be connected by any suitable means to thefront how 17 of the automobile top. Connecting the inner bumper bar 5and the outer bar 1 1- and bridging the space therebei tween is a strongflexible fabric 18. Secured secured to a front body tit the front marginof the rear the bar 11 pro ecting downwardly through a to the bumper bar5 by means of bolts 9 or other suitable means is the upper margin of astationary front side panel 19 having a window opening 20 therein.Mounted on the in ner side of the front stationary panel 19 along thelongitudinal margins of the opening 20 guide channels 21 in which avertically slidable transparent light or pane of flexible windowmaterial 22 of celluloid or any other suitable material is slidablymounted. The lower margin of the slidable window pane 22 may be providedwith a stiffening bar 23 to facilitate movement pane 22. The upper endof the window pane 22 when moved upwardly in the guide frame 21 isadapted to be projected nto the automobile top 1, as indicated in Figure2. The lower margin of the front stationary closure section or panel 19is adapted to be rigidly panel 2 1 by retaining members 25 of anysuitable type.

The winter enclosure also embraces a rear stationary panel or section 26provided with a transparent window pane and having one inclined marginsecured to the back portion of the body 2 by any suitable retainingmeans. The upper margin of the rear stationary panel 26 is adapted to besecured on the inner side of the rear portion of the top 1 while panel26 has of the slidable window hem thereof, thereby holding said rearpanel in position with the lower end or margin of said rear panelsecured to the rear side portion of the body of the car.

Positioned to the outside and projecting above the front door 27 is afront door panel 28 having a transparent window pane 29 and a supportingor metal brace frame 30 the lower ends of the side members of which areapertured to receive retaining bolts 31. Engaged on each set of the twolower retaining bolts 31 to the inside of the front panel 28 is an outeror small door clamp 32 the lower end of which is hooked or bent toengage over the outer top bead or margin of the front door 27, asclearly shown in Figure 5. Engaged on each set of the three bolts 31 onthe inner side of the panel 28 and adjacent the small door clamp 32 is alarge door clamp 33 shaped as illustrated in Figure 5 and having a lowerhook portion 3% adapted to rest upon the upper edge of the front door27, with said hook portion 3a engaging around the upper inner bead ormargin of said door. T he front set of bolts 31 engaged through he lowerfront corner of the front panel 28 may now be tightened to secure theclamp members 32 and 33 with the lower hook portions thereof clamped onopposite sides 0 the upper margin of the door to hold the front panel inplace with the inclined front margin of said panel formed to fit closelywith the end of the windshield to complete the closure. Also engagedover the two lower bolts 31 of the set of bolts projecting through therear margin of the panel 28 is an apertured flange or plate 35 which isintegrally formed on a handle hinge bracket 36 the sleeve portion ofwhich projects through a suitable opening in the panel 28 to permit thebight or connecting arm 37 of an auxiliary handle mechanism to projecttherethrough. The handle mechanism is pivotally sup ported in the hingebracket 31"; and has an outer handle 38 integrally formed on the outerend of the bigl t portion 37. Integrally formed on the inner end of thebight 37 is an inner handle or arm 39 the end of which is flattened toafford a head 40 which is ad jacent the projecting end of a standarddoor handle a l of the automobile to coact therewith. vVith theauxiliary handle mechanism and the clamps 32 and 33 mounted in position,as described, the rear set of retaining bolts 31 may be tightened tosecurely fasten the hook portions of the clamps on the upper beadedmargin of the door, with the two lower bolts acting to rigidly hold thehandle hinge bracket 36 in place so that when the door and the frontpanel is closed the outer auxiliary handle 38 may be actuated to operatethe inner auxiliary handle 39 to cause the same to actuate theautomobile handle ll to release the same to permit opening of the doorfrom the outside.

Mounted on each rear door 42 of the automobile is a rear door panel 43having a trans parent pane 44 constructed of any suitable material. Therear door panel '43 is also provided with a reinforcing metal braceframe the lower portion of which is mounted on the upper margin of thedoor 42 in a manner similar to the mounting of the front door panel 28.The side margins of the rear door panel 43 are positioned to overlap therear side margin of the front panel 19 and the front margin of the rearstationary panel 26. The front margin of the stationary front panel 19is overlapped by the rear side margin of the front door panel 28 whenthe same is closed.

The winter closure, as described, is adapted to completely close theside space between the body and the top of the automobile and betweenthe windshield and the rear portion of the top, with the supporting hookmember 12 at the rear end of the inner bumper bar 5 supported on thestrut iron 13 in a manner permitting any variations in the size ofstandard automobile tops to be compensated for when a winter enclosureof the type described is to be installed on an automobile The improvedclosure also provides front and rear door auxiliary handle mechanismssup ported by the respective front and rear door closure panels, withsaid auxiliary handle mechanisms having the inner arms thereof inco-acting relation with the standard door handles 41 of the automobilewhich would not r be accessible from the exterior of the car when thewinter closure is in position. This arrangement dispenses with providingopenings, pockets, or slits 111 the door closure pancls through which apersons hand must be projected in order to be able to operate the doorhandles 41 which are usually positioned on the inner sides of the doorsin Ford touring cars. To permit suitable ventilation the window pane 22in the front stationary panel 19 on each side of the car is slidablymounted to permit the window pane 22 to be pushed upwardly when desired,as illustrated in Figure 2.

Figures 9 and 10 of the drawings illustrate a modified form of a winterclosure handle mechanism and supporting brackets therefor associatedwith a door closure panel. In this connection, the reference numeralindicates a touring car door provided with the usual handle 46 mountedon the inner side of the door. Supported on the door is a winter closurepanel 47 having a reinforcing frame 48 the lower end of the side bar ofwhich is provided. with a plurality of apertures to receive retainingbolts 49. Engaged on the inner threaded ends of the bolts 49 to theinside of the closure panel 48 is a supporting bracket or clamp 50. Theintermediate portion of the bracket 50 is directed inwardly over the topof the door 45 and then downwardly in the form of a mounting plate 56positioned flat against the inner side of the door and having aperturestherein for receiving mounting screws 57 for rigidly holding the bracketin position on the door. Positioned on the two lower bolts 49 betweenthe bracket 50 and the rear inner side of the closure panel 47 is afiller bar or plate 51. Engaged on the inner ends of the two lowerretaining bolts 48 to the inside of the bracket 50 is an aperturedflange or plate 52 which is integrally formed at right angles on a hingebracket 53. The sleeve portion of the hinge bracket 53 projectstransversely above the top of the door through an opening in the closurepanel 47. Projecting through the sleeve of the hinge bracket 53 is ahandle bar or shaft 54 on the outer end of which a transverse handle orbar 55 is engaged to permit the handle bar 54 to be rocked or rotated inits support. Engaged on the inner end of the handle bar or shaft 54 isan inner handle or arm 58 the lower end of which is twisted to form aflat head 59 positioned adjacent the upper end of the door handle 46 insuch a manner that when the outer auxiliary handle 55 is operated orrotated the shaft 54 acts to operate the inner auxiliary handle 58 intocijiacting relation with the door handle 46 to release the same topermit opening of the automobile door from the outside of theautomobile, thereby doing away with slots or openings in the doorclosure panel.

The improved winter closure of this invention affords a ready means forconverting an ordinary Ford touring car top into a winter top in acomparatively short time due to the simple construction of the winterclosure and the simple means provided for mounting the winter closure inplace connected with the automobile top, with the windshield, and withthe frame members of said top. The material 18 bridging the spacebetween the bumper bar 5 and the outer bar 14 closes the space betweenthe side margins of the automobile top and the bumper bar to which thestationary side closure panels are secured and against which the uppermargins of the door closure panels are adapted to resiliently engagewhen the vehicle doors are closed. The hook brackets or bars 11 securedto the rear ends of the bumper bars 5 are adjustable on the strut irons13 before the lower ends of said bars 11 are secured to the body of theautomobile. The provision of the hook supporting bars at the rear endsof the bumper bars 5 permits the winter closures to be readly mounted onstandard Ford touring cars and allows for any variation in the length ofthe touring car tops. To make the winter closures free from handleopenings or slots to permit access through the closure panels to thehandles of the inner sides of the automobile doors, auxiliary handlemechanisms have been provided on the door closure panels with saidhandle mechanisms operable from the outside of the automobile when thedoors are closed to permit the inner portions of said handle mechanismsto coact with the door handles to release the same.

This arrangement permits the door-3 to be opened from the outside ot theautomobile when equipped with the winter closure sides and eliminatesthe use of openings, To perm niit ventilation of the inter or of theclosed winter top when desired the front stationary closure panels 19are provided with vertically siidable window panes 22 which are'adaptedto be pushed upwardly on the inner side of 15 the automobile top 1 asillustrated in Figure 2.

I am aware that many changes may be made, and numerous details ofconstruction may be varied through a wide ran e without departing fromthe principles of this invention, and I therefore do not purposelimiting the patent granted hereon, otherwise than necessitated by theprior art.

I claim as my invention:

5 1. In combination with an automobile door and a handle therefor, amember removably secured to the top of the door, a window frame having asupporting member carried by the first named member, a bracket secured gto the first na ied member and to the supporting memben and an armpivoted on the bracket and extending therethrough to actuate the doorhandle.

2. In combination with an automobile door and a handle therefor, amember removably secured to the top of the door and having an upwardlyextending portion, a window frame having a member secured to theupwardly extending portion of the first named member. a bracket securedto the upwardly extending" portion of the first named member and to thewindow frame mei'nber, and an arm pivoted on the bracket and extendingtherethrough to actuate the door handle.

in testimony whereof I have hereunto sub scribed my name.

JOSEP W. OS'T N.

